VideoStudio & Factory 7SE

[johnmorse]

hello I recently dl VidStudProX3. I had problems with Factory 2010 which always stopped working as soon as it loaded.
Support gave me Factory 7SE which I dl and works but I can't get my project to export to it and I am unable to import because the file is not shown when browsing for it.
Can someone tell me how to apply my project to Factory 7SE please so I can get it onto DVD?

Next question is that My project music track will not respond to volume adjustment. It just continues to play at the same level regardless.
I have adjusted volume manually and from the stereo control panel that appears just to the right of the video screen.

I have a deadline to complete this video for a show 6.11.10 and I am nervous I won't be able to show it.

I am new to video editing and I'm sure these things are just common knowledge - but not to me!
Support have been really helpful to me but can't help anymore.
So I'm relying on you now!!
thanks
John

[Ken Berry]

Welcome to the forums!

Unfortunately, MF 7 SE cannot recognise an X3 video project file. You need to first prepare a final video file from the project within X3 (Share > Create Video File > DVD [if it is less than an hour long; 'Custom' if it is longer). Then you open MF 7 SE and insert the new file there.

A work around would be to save the project in X2 format (when you use Save As on the project, click the downward-facing arrow and you will see you can save it in either X2 or VS 11 format, as well as X3. Then MF 7 SE should be able to open the X2 format.

As for the music track, what format is it in? VS does not like certain types of mp3 (and particulary when it is prepared with the LAME MP3 codec). It is usually best to convert the music to standard wav format and use that.

But what exactly did you do when you adjusted the volume "manually"? Did you go into Audio view and adjust the audio line for the music up or down?

[johnmorse]

Thanks for your reply Ken
Some of your answer is a bit foreign to me. converting files and so forth I don't yet understand. I am only a beginner!
You say I need to prepare a video file. I thought I had done this. But obviously not.
So far when I open 7SE the only option for source is my webcam!
Ok I think I can grasp what you are saying. tomorrow (Friday) I will have a play with it.
Manual adjustment means going to the music track with the sound mixer on and moving the yellow line down or up as shown in one of the tutorials
Maybe the music track I dl to my computer from a cd is rather old. I don't know how I find out what the format of the track is I'll try another track
I'm determined to crack these obstacles with your help
I do appreciate your comments.
Thanks Ken

[DVDDoug]

You say I need to prepare a video file. I thought I had done this. But obviously not.

You need an MPEG-2 (.MPG) file of your "finished movie". (At this point you're done editing and you could transfer to film and show it in the theater, or upload it to YouTube, etc.)

Now to "author" the DVD... You take that edited/finished file into Movie Factory to make menus etc. Movie Factory will re-format the MPG (or other format) into one or more VOB files and burn to disc.

I am new to video editing and I'm sure these things are just common knowledge

Not at all! It can get rather complicated, most video software is far from perfect, and there are potentially lots of steps. (Capture, Edit...Sometimes separate audio editing... Author DVD, Burn DVD, Edit photos & images to create labels & packaging, etc...)

I have a deadline to complete this video for a show 6.11.10 and I am nervous I won't be able to show it.

It always makes me nervous too when someone is using the software for the first time and they have a deadline. You never know how long it's going to take to fix a problem or figure something out... It can sometimes take a few days to fix a "simple problem" (even if you're not using the software for the 1st time).

[johnmorse]

Thanks for that Doug
You say you're nervous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am absorbing all this information and hope to get it right in the end.
btw my son is always telling me to switch to Apple!!
He says Apple video editing is a synch.
But I'm pressing on with what I have
Thanks for your interest
John

[UncleBoo]

btw my son is always telling me to switch to Apple!!
He says Apple video editing is a synch.

Apple video editing is easy because it has so few features. After initial frustrations with the steep learning curve of VSX3, I tried to do some editing using iMovie on my wife's MacbookPro. The preview window is smooth and slick with a great user interface. But if you go beyond that to do some actual editing, it quickly becomes a nightmare of almost no features and horrible user interface. I quickly scurried back to VSX3. If all you want to do is scroll through a video clip, iMovie is great. If you (eventually) want to do anything productive, then stick with VSX3. After the initial pain of learning the basics, you'll enjoy the many great features that outweigh the frustrating shortcomings.

Cc: to the moderators: perhaps it's time to create a FAQ for items such as "use MF7SE instead of the other stuff, share project as a video before switching to MF7SE, etc."
I (and I'm sure others) would be willing to contribute content...

[johnmorse]

OK so you were right. I got about 47 minutes of video in i Movie (quite near my target) and the Mac stopped playing sound for some reason and wouldn't save it at all. So much for iMovie!!

So I've gone back to Pro X3 and starting from scratch I now have over an hour of video which needs to be trimmed back to 50 minutes.

I've done titles and transitions and found a later music track which does respond to volume control! That's a relief!

so I have a bit of tinkering to do and then I'm ready to save.

I see MPEG2 has a rez of 720 x 840. Is that going to be a very small result in terms of size? I need it to fill the screen when showing.

Can you tell me if the Project itself is altered when I make the template and burn it?
That is can I still edit the project?
If the project remains the same I don't mind tinkering with it. But if I'm going to lose the project file it scares me

The alternative offered of Save As and choose X2 isn't available as far as I can see. File types offered are limited to Corel Video Studio 13 Project files (*.VSP), 12 Project Files (*.VSP) or 11 Project Files (*.VSP). I have no idea what this means!

I have just a week now to get things sown up. I feel I am almost there but I just need to understand what I'm doing when making the project into showable form. I have appreciated your help so far but I am just a little uncertain where I'm going because I'm afraid of losing the project and choosing the wrong format or something. If I have to start from scratch AGAIN. . . . well I suppose I'll have to!!!!!
Hope to hear from one of you soon
John

[BrianCee]

First of all John I note your location as UK - so there is something wrong if you are being offered a video resolution of 720 x 480 - that is the American standard NTSC format that we do not use in the UK - here we use PAL and your video resolution should be 720 x 576 - that WILL fill your screen. so make sure all your settings are for a PAL video.

When you 'File >> save' while editing you are only saving the project file - at no time do you alter or save your actual video file - the project file is the .vsp file (Video Studio Project)and can only be opened in VideoStudio and as long as you do not delete that file you will always be able to re-open and edit your project again. If it does worry you that you may lose it then simply make a copy (either using 'save as' =***.vsp inside VS) or in Windows Explorer by standard windows methods giving it a different name - as long as you keep the .vsp extension you can call it whatever you like - then you'll always have a backup

It is only when you have finished editing that you then create a video file - which produces a playable video from your project - this option is found under the 'SHARE' tab - not part of the 'File' structure, the output from the share stage can be a variety of formats depending on what you want to do with the video.

I do not actually have X3 - having stuck with X2 - in which I burn my DVD as well - but things are a bit different in X3 which directs you to MovieFactory to create your DVD - but there are plenty of X3 users here who will guide you through that stage.